Men’s Basketball Defeated by Peru State in Close Battle

Lamoni, Iowa - The Graceland University Men's Basketball team took on the Peru State College Bobcats. The Yellowjackets were defeated by the Bobcats, 70-68. Graceland move to 18-7 and are 15-6 in the conference.

Graceland (18-7, 15-6) | Peru State (15-10, 11-10)
Half 1: Graceland 22 | Peru State 29
Patrick Fisher opened the game from the deep, and Austin Braun would add charity stripes to lead by 5-0. The Bobcats would answer for 10 points to take a five-point lead (10-5). Braun would close the gap to two points from the line (13-11). Peru would drain seven, and a three from Aleksa Markovic would break the run (29-20), followed by a layup. Graceland would see points from Fisher, Braun, Carson Busch, Markovic and Carter Brown. The Yellowjackets would trail by seven heading into halftime, 29-22.

Half 2: Graceland 46 | Peru State 41
Akeen Woods drained a layup to open the second half (29-24); moments later, Austin Braun (layup) and Cason Busch (three-pointer) would add a collective five points to close the deficit to three points (32-29). Both teams would trade baskets. Darrius Davis would sink a layup, followed by a Patrick Fisher three to close the gap to two points (44-42). The Bobcats would add a late eight-point jump (57-47), Austin Braun would make both from the line to stop the run (57-49), and moments later, Amitai Afenjar drained a layup. Davis would add a basket from the deep. Woods would add two from the line, and Braun would add the nine remaining points to close the gap to two points. Peru would scrape by and hold their lead to end the score 70-68.

By the numbers:
21-24– The Yellowjackets had 26 field goals and the Bobcats sank 22 field goals
8-8 – Graceland and Peru State hit eight three pointers
11-14 – The Yellowjackets 11 bench points and the Bobcats had 14 bench points
40-36 – Graceland rebounds compared Peru State
18-14 – The Yellowjacket had four made charity stripe compared to the Bobcats

Graceland Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Austin Braun – 21
Rebounding Leader: Darrius Davis – 12
Assist Leader: Austin Braun – 5
Steal Leader: Patrick Fisher – 2

Peru State Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Sayvon Traylor – 24
Rebounding Leader: David Wingett Jr. – 8
Assist Leader: Carlos Hines – 3
Steal Leader: David Wingett Jr. / Christian Tidiane – 2

Up Next:
The Yellowjackets will be back on Saturday, February 17 when they take on MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers. Tip-off is set for 4:00 pm.

-Yellowjackets-